SetShot
SetShot is a macOS utility that captures snapshots of system settings and compares them so you can track what changed over time.
What is SetShot?
SetShot is a native macOS utility for recording and comparing snapshots of your Mac’s system settings. It helps users see exactly what changed after a macOS update, a configuration tweak, or a troubleshooting session, making it useful for careful Mac users, administrators, and anyone who likes to document their setup. The app can compare two snapshots side by side, keep a journal of recognized settings changes, and export a record of customizations for recreating a preferred setup on another Mac. It also supports scheduled background snapshots so you can build a history automatically and receive notifications when recognized changes are detected. SetShot focuses on Apple system settings rather than third-party app preferences, and it is published by TidBITS Publishing Inc. for macOS.
Key features
- Capture snapshots of macOS system settings for later comparison
- Compare two snapshots to see which settings changed and how
- Keep a searchable journal of recognized settings changes over time
- Export your current configuration to document a preferred setup
- Schedule automatic background snapshots at regular intervals
- Open relevant System Settings areas for many recognized changes
- Show readable descriptions for known settings changes instead of raw values
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Safety overview
Status: Mostly safe
SetShot’s normal job is to read macOS settings and store snapshots on your Mac so you can review changes later. It does not need special access for basic use, though optional features may request Notifications, Media & Apple Music access, or Full Disk Access to include additional privacy-permission details in its reports. Those requests are consistent with what the app is designed to monitor. Any feedback or unrecognized-change submissions are optional and send only the information needed for that report, so review what you submit if you do not want to share notes or setting details.
Recommendation: Keep SetShot if you use it to monitor macOS settings, document changes, or preserve a preferred configuration. If you no longer compare settings or use automatic snapshots, you can remove it without affecting macOS itself, though you may also want to delete its saved snapshots and journal if you no longer need that history.
Common paths
/Applications/SetShot.app
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